Woman Loses 302 Pounds Through Hard Work and Perseverance

Wendy McConkey is a true inspiration.

Just five years ago, the Washington State kindergarten teacher was morbidly obese at 450 pounds.

Realizing that everything was 10 times harder for her at that weight, she set out to change her life.

McConkey was determined to lose weight and get healthy again. Not the easiest things to envision when you weigh almost 500 pounds.

But her determination led her to join a major and popular weight loss plan and set off on a 5 year quest to reach her goal weight.

Her exercise at first was obviously limited. But she started with short walks around the neighborhood and then increased the duration and distance little by little.

Like with all big goals, she tackled it the best way anyone could–with smaller goals along the way.

As she admits, motivation came and went. It was quite the battle, but one she has won thankfully.

Now five and a half years later, McConkey is at her goal weight and teaching Zumba classes at a fitness center.

She is on her way, as of this blog, to tape an episode of the Oprah Show.

Her goal now is to maintain her weight and stay positive and inspired by the incredible journey she has overcome.

Congratulations to her. It’s stories like this that inspired me to lose 40 pounds by my 40th Birthday (which I called my 40 by 40 goal).

If she can lose 302 pounds, what is stopping YOU from losing 10 or 20 or 50 or 100 pounds?

The answer for most of us is, sadly, NOTHING. Nothing but our negative attitudes and lack of will and determination.

So now if you’ll excuse me, I am off to the gym in a bit. Yes, that’s right. I am back to the gym. I am lifting weights and running for the first time since I was a kid (and that was only when being chased by someone on the school yard).

Be well. Stay positive. Set your goals and facing in the direction of your goals…move. Walk. Skip. Run.

Just move.